Scalp massaging apparatus



S. A. HAMILTON SCALP MASSAGING APPARATUS Filed June 10, 1940.

AZflJYam 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

y 1942- s. A. HAMILTON 2,282,577

' scALP MASSAGING APPARATUS Filed June 10, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A112.fl'amiliam I IN V EN TOR;

A TTORNEYS.

y 1942- s. A. HAMILTON 2,282,577

SCALP MASSAGING APPARATUS Filed June 10, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Ail'zijzamzzia IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 12, 1942 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to apparatus for use in massaging the scalp andis designed primarily for use by professional operators. I

One of the objects is to provide a structure which will support a patronin such position as to cause the blood to flow to the scalp, there beingmeans contained within and extending from the structure whereby thedesired massaging effect can be produced on the scalp at will, therebyto stimulate circulation therein.

Another object is to utilize power driven suction producing meansnormally concealed from View and .so mounted as to eliminateobjectionable vibration.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fullydescribed'and pointed out in the claims, it being understood thatchanges may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, a part of the housing being broken away.

Figure 2 is an elevation of one end.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing the pillow in section, projecting partsthereunder being removed.

Figure 4 is a section on line 44, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section through a suction cup.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l designates cornerposts or legs arranged in end pairs. The legs of each pair are connectedby a cross-strip 2 and also by end panels 3 forming walls of a housing.The end panels are in turn connected by side panels 4 forming side wallsof the housing.

A top 5 closes the upper portion of the housing and is inclined towardone end. This top is covered with a suitable cushion 6 and across thelower end thereof is arranged a rounded strip 1 of wood or othersuitable material fastened to the top 5 as shown at 8. A recess 9 isformed in the top of this strip at the center and the entire strip iscovered by a pillow l0 joined thereto. Thus when a patron is placed onthe cushion 6, with the head on the pillow ID, a recess will be formedby the pillow above recess 9 to provide a comfortable rest for the headwhile, at the same time, the shoulders will be posipreferred.

tioned against the pillow which thus serves to holdthe patron fromsliding, downwardly while being treated. v V j p A drip pan l l issupported by brackets l2 below the pillow to receive any excesstreatment fluids 'used'during the massaging operation.

The strips l3 support and are connected by the base l5 of an electricmotor [6, this base being firmly secured to the strips and to the motor,as shown. The motor has a drive pulley I! for transmitting motionthrough a belt I8 to a pulley I9 secured to a shaft 20 which isjournaled in standards 2| fastened to, strips l3. Another pulley 22 issecured to the shaft and transmits motion through a belt 23 to a largepulley or flywheel 24, the shaft 25 of which is journaled in standards26 on'one of the strips I3.

The flywheel or pulley 24 has a wrist-pin 21 on which is mounted amember28 bolted at 29 to a connecting rod section 30 extending from across-head 3|. This cross-head has grooves in opposite sides as shown at32 to receive the T-shaped ends 33 of piston rods 34. The heads are heldin place by side straps 35 connected by bolts 36.

Pump cylinders 31 are pivotally mounted side by side at 38 on a base 39secured to and connecting the strips 13. The rods 34 extend from theusual pistons in the cylinders so that when cross-head 3| isreciprocated and oscillated the cylinders will oscillate while thepistons therein will draw air into the cylinders through intake tubes40. These latter are flexible and one of them leads to each cylinder.The tubes extend through one end of the housing and each of them isprovided at its outer end with a suction cup 4|. p i As shownparticularly in Figure 5, each suction cup includes a tubular handle 42connected atone end of the tube as at 43 while its other end has a vent44 normally closed by a valve 45 which can be opened when desired, by

An arm 41 extends from and opens into the handle and has a threadednipple 48 which is seated firmly but detachably in a tubular arm 49extending from and integral with a suction cup 50 formed preferably ofsoft rubber. The free edge portion 5| of the cup is flared and reducedin thickness so as to be capable of adapting itself readily to thecontour of the surface under treatment. stiffening ribs 52 of softrubbercan be be molded on the inner surface of the cup,

In practice the motor is started, as by throwing a switch 53. The pumpsimmediately begin to function by intermittently sucking air into therespective cups 50. With the patron positioned as heretofore explained,the cups are applied to opposite portions of the scalp and will pullthereon simultaneously. The cups can be moved to different positions andas the circulation to the scalp has been increased because of theposture of the patron, this action of the cups will relax and stimulatethe tissues.

By providing two cups, one can be used to pull simultaneously with butin the opposite direction to the other, thus avoiding pulling the headout of position. A further advantage is found in the fact that shouldone cup become clogged with foreign substances, the operation cancontinue with the other without interruption. If desired, however, onlyone cup can be used at a time.

By opening valve 45, suction through the corresponding cup can be brokenat will.

What is claimed is:

In a scalp massaging apparatus the combination with a housing having atop proportioned to support a person in a prone position thereon, of asuction pump in the housing having separate inlets, means in the housingfor operating the pump, said pump and operating means being beneath thepatient-supporting top of the housing, flexible tubes extending to therespective inlets andoutwardly from the housing, a manually shiftablesuction cup connected to the outer end of each tube and positioned toengage the head of the supported patient, and means under the control ofthe hand holding each cup for making and breaking suction in said cup.

SIDNEY A. HAMILTON.

